Authorities in Musanze District are stepping up efforts to promote vegetable consumption and kitchen gardening as part of a renewed campaign to combat malnutrition and reduce child stunting.

The initiative seeks to encourage households to establish kitchen gardens and diversify their diets.

According to district data, the stunting rate currently stands at 31.9 per cent, down from 45.9 per cent five years ago. The district aims to reduce it to below 15 per cent by 2029.

Theobald Kayiranga, Musanze District Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, said authorities are working closely with partners to accelerate progress.

"Rooting out stunting requires growing vegetables so children eat them regularly, and ensuring parents understand the benefits of a balanced diet,” Kayiranga said.

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He said model kitchen gardens are being established at sector offices to serve as practical demonstration and training centres for communities, with the initiative drawing on Israeli agricultural expertise.

The campaign is also being implemented under the Sustainable Health and Improved Nutrition for Everyone (SHINE) Project, with kitchen garden promoters expanding outreach across villages.

"We believe that whether you live on a small plot or a large one, you must have a kitchen garden that provides the family with fresh vegetables,” Kayiranga said.

Root causes

Despite Musanze’s fertile volcanic soils and high agricultural production, local leaders say several socio-economic and dietary factors continue to contribute to malnutrition.

Officials cite an over-reliance on Irish potatoes as a staple food, as well as the tendency by some households to sell nutritious produce such as eggs, milk and vegetables to generate income instead of consuming part of it at home.

They also point to household challenges linked to alcohol consumption.

Emmanuel Ndayizigiye, Chief Executive Officer of Yalla Yalla Group, an organisation supporting communities with agricultural skills acquired from Israel, said economic pressures often take precedence over household nutritional needs.

"While Musanze produces an abundance of nutrient-dense crops and livestock, families frequently sell their high-value produce for household income,” Ndayizigiye said.

"Many mothers are heavily engaged in agricultural labour, trade or informal jobs. Without adequate childcare support, they struggle to maintain required feeding frequencies or optimal breastfeeding practices throughout the day.”

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To address these challenges, the initiative is targeting vulnerable households with home-based kitchen gardens to improve access to micronutrient-rich vegetables.

Caregivers are also being trained in preparing balanced meals using affordable and locally available foods.

Early results

So far, 50 farmers from five sectors — Nkotsi, Muko, Kimonyi, Busogo and Kinigi — have completed training in vegetable farming and dietary diversity.

There are plans to expand the programme to all 15 sectors of the district.

Selaphine Nyirabayanga, 45, a resident of Kimonyi Sector, welcomed the initiative, saying limited farming knowledge had previously made it difficult for some residents to grow vegetables successfully.

"We have welcomed this farming school because we had limited skills in growing vegetables. This will support many of us in learning how to prepare balanced meals,” Nyirabayanga said.

Emmanuel Nzabonimpa, a local kitchen garden promoter, said the goal is to help more households establish gardens using affordable and readily available resources.

"We are going to support more families to learn how to establish their own kitchen gardens using minimal resources to help cut child stunting and improve adult nutrition, because adults need vegetables too,” he said.